Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

398 SESSION VI
politicians’ qualifications as legislators in respect to
policies or stances on national agendas, such as the fiscal
deficit, political donations, the Constitution, the global
environment, referendums, and political ethics. The
Council watches carefully what individual politicians’
stances are towards national policy problems and how
they approach the resolution of pending issues, such
as budget deficit reconstruction and constitutional
amendments. The Council distributes questionnaires
to candidates. After getting responses, the Council
records and posts them on its website, http://www.
seijika-hyoutei.com/frame.html, with no intention to
rank or grade politicians. The problem so far is that
the successful candidates have failed to follow their
campaign pledge. (Hirano, Japan Economic Newswire:
June 5, 2000, www.fas.harvard.edu/~rijs/ DCJArt_
Election_v9n1_2003.html)
Shimin Onbuzu (Civic Ombudsman) Amagasaki
This group, which has no website, publicizes a report
evaluating the activities of each current assembly
member. The group gives information such as how
many policy proposals members make, how they work to
achieve their campaign promises, including the quality
of the promises, how much information they give to the
public, how they communicate with citizens, and how
they contribute to advancing the local administration.
(Murakami, The Japan Times, 15 July 2001)
Politician Blacklists (Rakusen Undo)
Rakusen undo originated in South Korea during an
election around April 2000, or two months before
Japan’s general election in June 2000. Through this
means, Koreans were able to prevent the election of
70% of the blacklisted “defective politicians”.
Inspired by this successful negative campaign, a number
of citizens groups throughout Japan initiated such
campaigns on their own while developing cooperation
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows
with each other, as well as the original group in Korea.
At least seven major Japanese citizens groups distributed
blacklists compiled on their own and launched a
“movement to expel political misfits” in an effort to
“drive out unworthy politicians and candidates from
Nagatacho!” Each group had a different style. “Policy
Net-Rainbow and Green” in Shizuoka prefecture rated
all 34 candidates in its regional district by their past
actions, remarks, policies and the way they did or
did not respond to the group’s questionnaire. Wave
21 in Tokyo made a “dump” list of 23 incumbents
nationwide. (Murakami, M. Asiaweek, June 9, 2000)
The Rakusen Undo movement can be referred to as a
good example of a successful case of borrowing another
country’s mechanism.
Shimin Rentai—Nami (Wave) 21
Shimin Rentai—Nami, based in Koganei, western
Tokyo, posted a list of unfit politicians on its website,
http://nvc.halsnet.com/jhattori/raku sen. The list
was made by public opinion, with members of the
public sending postcards and e-mails. The first list was
launched on 13 April and the updated list that took
into account more voters’ opinions was posted on 10
June. (The Japan Times, 12 May 2000; Meinardus, The
Japan Times, 4 Nov. 2001)
30 Citizens’ Groups in the Kansai Region
About 30 citizens’ groups in the Kansai Region formed
the Citizens’ Union in April to launch an effort to stop
unfit candidates from winning Lower House seats in the
light of eight criteria they had set. The criteria include
involvement in crimes, injustice and corruption, or
those who lack common sense. Public opinions on unfit
candidates were sent to the groups through e-mails,
faxes and letters. (The Japan Times, 4 June 2000)
Table 4: Organization Activities of Japanese Civil Society—Politicians / Politician Blacklist (Rakusen Undo).
Civil Society Activities Mechanism
Shimin Rentai—
Nami (Wave) 21
30 citizens’ groups
in the Kansai
Region
May 2000: Released the first list of unfit politicians for the Diet. Former PM Mori
warned that it might be against laws on elections. (The Japan Times, May 12, 2000)
June 2000: Released the second list. (Japan Times, June 6, 2000)
April 2000: Formed the Citizens’ Union to launch an effort to stop unfit politicians
from winning Lower House seats and distributing a blacklist of 27 unfit politicians in
June. (The Japan Times, June 4, 2000)
Mihariban May 2000: Launched website to ask citizen opinions on inappropriate politicians for
re-election.
Acquiring and distributing
information from public sources
Networking for blacklisting
inappropriate politicians
Acquiring and distributing
information from public sources
Note: Activities in table do not include all activities of each group. Only selected activities are mentioned.